As I packed for a household week away in South Devon, the temperature the place I dwell, close to to Tub, was simply tipping over the thirty levels mark. I’m not normally affected by scorching climate an excessive amount of, not till it will get to “Egypt in August” degree of insufferable, however on this specific day my total physique revolted. Maybe as a result of I had a lot work to do earlier than we may go away, perhaps it was as a result of we’d dedicated to driving all the way down to Devon straight after the varsity pickup and it was an unrealistic plan that left no time to do necessary duties akin to decanting canine biscuits, discovering strolling boots, loading the cool-box with ice packs solely in order that we may take the ball of Mozzarella di Bufala that was about to run out and 1 / 4 of a pint of milk. I don’t know. However I used to be mentally deranged by 1pm and by 3pm I used to be bodily melting. My again was sweating, my underboobs have been sweating, even the areas between my fingers have been sweating and areas don’t have sweat glands.
I realise that that is one thing of a non-standard introduction to a bit a couple of luxurious clifftop vacation house – “underboob” and “mentally deranged” presumably wouldn’t be within the desired search engine marketing key phrases – however it’s necessary to provide a little bit of context and lead you progressively and seamlessly in the direction of the climatic pinnacle of this vacation evaluate.
As a result of I’m going to speak about how I packed my baggage when it was thirty levels, and due to this fact ended up taking a suitcase of seaside attire and sandals – not a single jumper – after which I’m going to do a humorous little bit about how the climate didn’t play ball. Oh, the irony! The way it was greyish or it rained virtually daily for the week that we have been there and the way on two of the times out of seven the rain was so torrential you possibly can barely even stand out in it.
However hark at what I’m going to do subsequent (the climatic pinnacle, as promised): I’m going to let you know that not one of the gray climate mattered. The torrential rain didn’t trouble us one jot. As a result of we have been staying at Clifftop, an immense vacation home you can guide by means of Excellent Stays, AND THE VIEWS FROM THIS HOUSE MEANT THAT BEING INSIDE WAS EVEN BETTER THAN BEING OUT!
I’m not even exaggerating. Sitting in any of the sea-facing rooms at Clifftop (and this included two of the seven bedrooms, the primary dwelling house, the secondary prime flooring dwelling house and three expansive balconies) was akin to being in an IMAX cinema watching impeccably shot footage of the south west coast. Twenty 4 hours a day. Ground to ceiling home windows framing the rolling waves, the formidable cliffs, the breathtaking sundown. It simply by no means obtained boring.
(Admittedly when you truly went to an IMAX theatre to observe that, it could most likely get tiresome after roughly 4 minutes, however when it’s actual life? And you actually are perched up there on a cliff prime, sitting in your rocking chair and listening to the waves crash beneath you? It was priceless. Soul-soothing.)
I may simply bang on in regards to the view for the whole time and I truly suppose I’d be fully justified: I really like a great view, I purchased my home due to the views (partly – the oil baron’s ski lodge vibe and seventies split-level lounge had a play in it, too) and I’m a giant appreciator of views typically. Particularly a well-framed view. Ooph. Give me a wonderfully cropped-in view of one thing – a forest, a cliff, even only a good tree or a bit of sky – and it doesn’t even matter how small the window is. I’ll nod in satisfaction that the little slice of world has been completely captured. Residing, respiration, shifting artwork.
Anyway, there was extra to Clifftop than the view. For a begin, it was big and fantastically completed. Seven bedrooms, six (and a half) bogs, two big dwelling areas and additional bits and items like a ping pong desk room, a comfortable, a separate kitchenette on the highest flooring (greatest views in the home) and an entire workplace in a cabinet. Fourteen folks didn’t really feel a squash and a squeeze, it felt fully comfy and splendid. Two of the bedrooms have been on the very backside flooring and regarded out to sea and made it really feel very a lot as if you have been on a cruise ship, with none of the related disadvantages. (Particularly: being trapped on a cruise ship, being on a ship in any respect for longer than eight hours, being on any ship when you’ve got watched each Titanic and the extra up to date boat “horror movie”, Triangle of Unhappiness.)
Every flooring had a balcony and the design very cleverly put 4 folks on the highest flooring and eight on the underside flooring with the primary dwelling house sandwiched in between. (You’re appropriate when you’ve noticed two folks lacking: there’s an additional bed room on that foremost dwelling flooring.) The highest flooring had its personal lounge space, eating house and kitchenette of very beneficiant proportions, which means that you possibly can dwell as a household moderately individually for per week on the highest flooring when you fancied your individual house. And nonetheless match one other two or three households in downstairs!
What a jape.
As long as you’re keen on going away as massive teams, after all. And this was a home with massive teams totally catered for, with the entire practicalities and logistics thought by means of. Area for 3 vehicles (electrical charging level, bonus), kitchen work surfaces for at the very least 5 adults concurrently catering for his or her offspring, frantically chopping and arranging as if they’re cooks at The Ritz. One baby having cream cheese on triangular items of bagel with a sprinkling of chives, one other requesting sausages minimize lengthways, “like alien fingers”, a toddler needing cheese for a baked potato however solely grated on the best setting…
Ding ding! Service please!
However oh, that view. Ever-present and simply there, like this massive wall of crashing blues and greys and greens. It was onerous to really feel something however grateful, to be unfashionably frank. It stopped you in your tracks a number of occasions an hour and by no means obtained previous – I do know I stated I wouldn’t bang on about it however it actually was outstanding and particular.
As was the utility room. Exceptional and particular. Now look: this utility wasn’t particular as a result of it had DeVol models or a pantry with herb racks or a spot to rearrange flowers or no matter issues are presently trending: this utility was particular as a result of it had been so meticulously thought out, so comprehensively deliberate, that it was troublesome to fault it. In a approach, it was the engine room to the home: the entire workings may go on there, behind the scenes, and the remainder of the home may amble alongside fantastically with none of the sand and mess and scent that usually finally ends up sabotaging a giant group vacation.
You would entry the utility room from exterior and are available straight into it from the seaside, by way of an out of doors bathe (scorching! unbelievable view!) and a collection of hooks and drying pegs and storage areas for the varied swimsuits and towels and seaside toys and physique boards. All mess: left on the door. Inside, one other bathe, an enormous sink for laundry canines (at the very least I hope that was what it was for) and extra pegs and rails and cabinets. And are you aware what? A home sleeping fourteen wants these items! All of them! However so many locations don’t have them. They’re essential, these unsexy, sensible areas. In any other case the home will get soiled and the home – in time – will get wrecked. Not an issue right here; a lot house for canines and sandy children and varied doorways and partitions you may shut and the entire place fully rinsable…
The opposite utility door went out onto steps that lead all the way down to a small clifftop backyard containing giant scorching tub (with aforementioned view, have I already talked about the view, I can’t fairly bear in mind?) and – shock, area of interest deal with – a sauna.
On the threat of turning this piece right into a ingesting sport (“have a shot each time she says view!”) the sauna was tucked away proper on the fringe of the plot and had little home windows going through out over Challaborough Bay. I virtually cooked my inner organs sitting in there a bit too lengthy as a result of I grew to become enraptured with the surfers paddling about, biding their time, and the folks on the seaside, working out and in of the water. What a spot to really feel your individual nostril hairs self combust!
So let’s recap: big home. Fantastically designed (I feel the renovation have to be comparatively new and the eye to element and high quality of end didn’t go unnoticed) and generously kitted out, with greater than sufficient towels and about eighteen pillows and cushions per individual. Extremely located, with a simple amble all the way down to Burgh Island (what a magical little set-up that’s) or to Challaborough and shortish drives to Kingsbridge and Salcombe; you actually may spend each day on the seaside.
Not one of many group of 13 may consider a foul factor to say. I imply, one individual can’t truly discuss but in order that was him out, however the remainder of them? Compliments all spherical. There are loads of stairs and steps (the home is over three ranges) in order that’s a consideration, however we cherished that not the entire bedrooms have been on one degree. It will have been absolute mayhem.
Costs for Clifftop begin at £2950 for per week low season (and truly, finish of September is £3350 for per week, which remains to be normally fairish climate) and while you divide it by fourteen and work out costs per head… Effectively. For the extent of sheer luxurious, and that view (sorry!) I’m unsure you possibly can prime it.
Yow will discover out extra on Clifftop (with higher, extra useful photographs) at Excellent Stays here. I’ve a full home tour on video, click on here or press play on the video display beneath.
